Screening and Production of Antifreeze Proteins from Actinobacteria

Abstract

AbstractCold tolerant organisms like psychrotrophs and psychrophiles survive at low temperatures by producing bioactive substances that helps in maintaining their blood unfrozen at low temperatures. Antifreeze proteins have been found in various organisms inhibiting the Arctic and Antarctic where they are constantly exposed to very low temperatures. Antifreeze proteins inhibit the growth and recrystallization of ice, thereby enabling the organisms to survive in such harsh conditions. Use of antifreeze proteins is much preferred in the fields of biomedicine, food preservation, and organ cryopreservation in comparison to the chemical freezing agents with their limitations. Much research is needed in laboratory and industry scale production of antifreeze proteins from psychrophilic microorganisms and this chapter briefs on the production and screening properties of antifreeze proteins from actinobacteria.Key wordsAntifreeze proteinsPsychrophilesCryopreservationActinobacteria